We are in search of our first motor home and was wondering if there is certain times during the year when there is a higher inventory or selection of used ones or is just all year long and hope to get what we want?

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I like the fall when people are tired of their old rig and want new, so the sell their old rig outright before they have to winterize and store it, and wait to buy new in the spring, or maybe trade in and steal a last-year coach in the fall. I also like fall because the repos get real cheap. The bank has to sell the coach to realize the loss so it can be taken against taxes in the current year. Selling gets tougher as the weather gets colder. In my case high book was over 100k, asking was 90k, offer was 52k, bank took it and did not even counter. Coach was consigned to a dealer when we found it.

Do lots and lots of research and looking and rent various coaches, A's, B's, C's, gas, diesel, to see what you like, what you can afford, and what you can live with.

Ditto. End of season through mid-winter is generally the best time to buy.

However, used RVs vary substantially in asking price, depending on the sellers willingness to sell. The best way to buy is spend lots of time viewing units, and lots of time shopping online, and lots of time learning what to look for. That way, when a great unit is listed cheaply, you can snap it up.

We are in search of our first motor home and was wondering if there is certain times during the year when there is a higher inventory or selection of used ones or is just all year long and hope to get what we want?

I would think in the Fall when camping is slowing down or stopping in certain areas of the country.

Also, if the dealer's Fiscal year ends December 31st they will be trying to get all used inventory sold in order not to pay taxes on it!

Work at a dealership in the Mid-South and for us it seems to be Feb/Mar. People are getting ready for the upcoming season and moving to a newer rig. Our slowest times of the year are Nov/Dec/Jan.

One thing I find fascinating each year is right before hunting season. Customers come in and buy up used units to put on their hunting land. They seem to always ask the same question, what's the cheapest thing you got on the lot.

Right now, good used inventory is at a premium. Seems near impossible to get used class A and DP's and when we do, they are gone in a couple days. If you find a nice one, I wouldn't hesitate. Last I looked, we only have about 60 between 11 stores. Should help folks get top dollar for their trades. As good as the new market is, the used market is as strong or better.

As others have suggested, it all depends on where you are. If there is an off-season, that's a good time to shop for lower prices, but it is also a time of limited selection, The busy season often sees a high turnover and more choices of rig model and size.

Off-season in Massachusetts is at a different time than in Florida or south Texas.

__________________
Gary Brinck
Former owner of 2004 American Tradition
Home is in the Ocala Nat'l Forest near Ocala, FL
Summers in Black Mountain, NC

We bought ours in early December when most everyone else seemed more concerned about Christmas shopping. There was a flood of inventory on the used market (at least in Central TX), and most of the rigs were having a hard time finding new homes.

Having said that, the RV we eventually landed had been on the market less than 24hrs and had a lot of people waiting to buy if we didn't pull the trigger. There was even a lady checking out our RV after we signed the paperwork and were trying to do our congratulatory photo. So when something is worth it, don't wait for a better buy. You may miss out.

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In the past, I've been told the Southwest is good for looking from around March and April, as many Snowbirds are heading out for the season. Some elect to end their annual pilgrimage to the sun, and thus the lots get coaches in on consignment. Yuma, Phoenix, Tucson, are some areas. Might also check those regions on Craigslist.

I said in the past, as from what I could pick up talking to many of the regulars in Yuma, this was an off season for them due to the Canadian's economy and value against the dollar. One gent told me he felt they had about 20-30% less Snowbirds to Yuma area this year. And it was very hard to drive down a street in the Foothills area, without seeing RV Lots and casitas, and small homes with RV parking - for sale. The same gent, he and two or three others on the block we were staying, live in Yuma year around. (He said we're reverse Snowbirds, that most of them travel in the hot months!). He told me that at least three of their Canadian friends had decided to abandon their Yuma winter visits for now. He had personally moved one 5th, and two DP's that were kept in storage in Yuma, to condiment lots for these now absentee owners. This was between Thanksgiving and the end of the year that he did this for them.

So, I'm not sure if this has reduced or increased the inventory available. And have not idea if this was the same in other parts of popular AZ Snowbird sites.

And yeah, suspect Florida is the same as far as the end of the Snowbird season being good to look for RV's, probably down around the South Texas area too, another very popular place for full timers and Snowbirds.